What We Heard summarises the key themes from the Tasmanian Labor Bell Bay & George Town Community Forum, held on 28 September 2026 at the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone. The forum brought together representatives from major industry, advanced manufacturing, engineering and contracting, energy, resources, data infrastructure, local government and business chambers at a time of deep uncertainty for the precinct, following the closure of Liberty Bell Bay and shortly before the Bell Bay Aluminium power deal was secured.

Participants discussed the challenges facing Bell Bay and George Town and the biggest opportunities for the region and Northern Tasmania. This report captures what they told us, from the cost of uncertainty and the losses carried by local businesses, to the need for planning reform, a skilled workforce that stays, and a long-term strategic plan for the precinct. It is not a transcript and does not attribute individual comments.